Traquair House: A Stewart Stronghold and the Jacobite Legacy
Traquair House, widely considered Scotland’s oldest inhabited residence, is nestled in the picturesque Tweed Valley, near the small town of Innerleithen. Its history spans more than 900 years, starting as a royal hunting lodge, evolving into the beloved home of the Stewart family, and becoming a focal point in the Jacobite rebellions of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Originally, the estate served as a retreat for Scottish royalty, strategically placed within rich hunting grounds. Historical records suggest visits by over two dozen Scottish monarchs. Most famously, Mary, Queen of Scots and her husband, Lord Darnley, stayed here in 1566—a poignant visit given their turbulent marriage and tragic destinies.
The Stewarts at Traquair
The house's direct connection with the Stewarts began formally in 1491, when James Stewart, son of the Earl of Buchan and closely related to King James III, received the property as a gift. He became Traquair’s first laird, marking the beginning of continuous Stewart residence, which remains unbroken to this day.
Over centuries, the family saw its fortunes closely tied to Scottish and British politics. However, their most defining era came during the turbulent Jacobite uprisings, particularly after James II of England & VII of Scotland—a Stuart monarch—was deposed in favour of his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange in the revolution of 1688. The family’s staunch Catholic beliefs and political sympathies inevitably aligned them with the Jacobite cause, dedicated to restoring the Stuart kings.
Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Famous Bear Gates
The most notable event connecting Traquair House to Jacobite history occurred during the Jacobite rising of 1745. Charles Edward Stuart, famously known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie," visited Traquair House during his campaign to reclaim the British throne. The Stewart family at Traquair pledged full support to the Prince, fully aware of the significant dangers involved.
Upon Bonnie Prince Charlie’s departure from Traquair, the family closed the estate’s iron Bear Gates. According to legend, these gates were to remain sealed until a Stuart monarch returned to the throne. The Jacobite rising ultimately met defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and Bonnie Prince Charlie fled into exile, living abroad until his death in Rome on January 31, 1788.
He left no legitimate heirs, leading to the end of the direct male Stuart line. Despite distant familial connections persisting today, the symbolic promise at Traquair House specifically referenced the direct Stuart lineage and their claim to the throne. Consequently, the Bear Gates remain famously closed to this day, marking a poignant symbol of loyalty, loss, and romantic hope tied to Scotland's Jacobite heritage.
Why the Gates Remain Shut
Today’s British monarch, King Charles III, indeed carries Stuart blood through ancestral connections tracing back to James VI of Scotland and I of England. Despite this, the gates remain deliberately shut as a reminder of the historical and symbolic nature of the original pledge. It wasn’t merely Stuart ancestry but specifically the Jacobite claim and the direct Catholic lineage of the exiled Stuarts the family pledged to support. Thus, the gates remain a vivid symbol of loyalty to a long-lost cause.
Traquair Today: A Living History
Today, Traquair is cared for by its present owners—the direct descendants of those original Stewarts. Visitors can tour this remarkable estate, seeing interiors little changed by time, complete with treasured Jacobite memorabilia, period furnishings, and family portraits. Its famous gardens and grounds are meticulously maintained, and the house continues as a family residence, brewery, and event venue, showcasing the Stewart family's unbroken historical legacy.
As Scotland’s oldest continually inhabited home, Traquair House stands as a testament to the personal loyalty, deep political convictions, and remarkable historical continuity that has characterized the Stewart family for over five centuries. The closed Bear Gates continue to resonate with visitors, representing not merely lost political causes but the enduring human values of loyalty, memory and hope.
References:
McConnochie, A. I. (1923). Traquair and the Jacobite Cause.
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